Search results for: photography tips solutions controlling light in photography
About 27 filtered results
by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
First, a disclaimer: Like composition, lighting portraits is a subjective exercise. A setup that works for one situation may not work for the next, and lighting that one photographer adores might repulse another. Cultivating a personal lighting style involves an awareness of conventional approaches and willingness to go beyond what everyone else is doing. Study portraits
by Shawn C. Steiner · Posted
Pop on a pair of (decent) sunglasses and not only are your eyes less strained, things just look better. The reason for this is likely the polarization effect. Colors may appear more saturated, bright blue skies can take on a deeper hue, and some pesky reflections just vanish. All of these can benefit certain photographs and make the circular polarizer filter one of the best—and most difficult—filters to use.
Exactly What Does a Polarizer Do?
It’s
by Todd Vorenkamp · Posted
One of the magical aspects of modern photography is the ability to review an image instantly within our EVF (electronic viewfinder) or right on the back of the camera.
Frequently, one possible mistake that digital photographers make is when reviewing an image on their camera—they evaluate exposure based on the reproduced image. Why might this be a mistake? Well, both your camera’s LCD and EVF likely have adjustable brightness. Also, you might be viewing your images in bright sunlight or in the pitch black of night. Just as viewing a computer
by Todd Vorenkamp · Posted
Every facet of photography is about controlling light, from the amount of light we allow to enter our camera via the aperture of a lens to the duration of our exposure set by the shutter speed. But how does the camera measure the brightness of the scene to set these settings automatically? How do you, the photographer, know how much to adjust your exposure settings to achieve a specific result for the final image? This is achieved with an in-camera light meter.
What Is Metering?
Metering is how a camera evaluates the available light to
by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
One of the most effective ways to improve your portraiture is by controlling the light, and one of the most effective ways to control your light is to move it. Seems like a simple enough concept, but it can be daunting at first, especially if you're using a speedlight or an on-camera flash. Despite its misleading name, an on-camera flash can, very easily, be used off the camera. The "on-camera" part simply refers to its form factor
by Cory Rice · Posted
A persistent challenge photographers face when working in-studio is avoiding monotony. This can be especially difficult when shooting in the same space with the same tools and the same props over and over. One way of keeping your studio work fresh is by customizing the equipment with which you are working. This article covers a handful of do-it-yourself projects that can add a little extra character to your studio without requiring a large budget or extensive building experience.
Paint or Stain Your Apple Boxes
Are you tired of providing free
by Todd Vorenkamp · Posted
Great products deserve (and often receive) great product photography. Whether you are photographing items for online sales, Internet auctions, or simply taking still life photos of a prized possession, there are some simple (and relatively inexpensive) gear and tips that can help your photos stand out from the others.
Online Auctions & Internet Marketplaces
We’ve all seen sub-par product images online. Let’s face it, they do not want to make you reach for your credit card or increase your bid. Smartphone snapshots are perfectly fine if you
by Allan Weitz · Posted
If wanderlust is starting to get the best of you, consider upgrading your camera gear before heading out on your next outdoor adventure.
1. Clean Your Gear
Your first order of business should be to make sure your camera bodies and lenses are clean and in proper working order. To learn more about cleaning and optimizing the performance of your cameras, camera sensors, lenses, and other photo essentials, refer to the tips I offer in
by Todd Vorenkamp · Posted
Photography is all about capturing light. In fact, the etymology of the word “photograph” is basically “light drawing.” To make a photograph that we can see, we have to control both the amount of light that is exposed to a photosensitive surface, be it film or a digital sensor, and also control the sensitivity of that surface to the light. In this series, we will discuss a bit of the physics and characteristics of light and then how a camera and lens combine to control exposure by using what is commonly known as the “Exposure Triangle.”
by Todd Vorenkamp · Posted
There are many articles on the Web about specialized lighting for macro photography. As awesome as some of these ring lights and macro flashes are, they become just one more thing to cram
by Jill Waterman · Posted
Making pictures by night is a curious practice. While specialists of this subject embrace it as a deep-seated passion and have a never-ending quest for technical and creative advancement, those more familiar with daytime photography are often unaware that tried and true photography rules often need to be adapted or even overlooked at night. With this in mind, consider the following tips the next time you venture out in the darkness, to help you to adapt.
1. Take a Chance and Explore the Unknown
What’s my exposure time? This is the number one
by Todd Vorenkamp · Posted
Texture is one of those multi-sensory things that we can feel with our sense of touch and “feel” visually with our eyes. Because texture transcends the senses, we must account for it when we create photographs. Sometimes the goal is to accentuate a specific texture. Sometimes we wish to “smooth” the texture visually. How you light your subject has a lot to do with how you reveal, or hide, texture.
Photographs ©Todd Vorenkamp
by Todd Vorenkamp · Posted
Shallow depth of field (DOF) is one of the visual effects that many photographers seek in their everyday photographs. To accomplish this, there is the grail quest for lenses with larger and larger maximum apertures. In the world of macro and
by Todd Vorenkamp · Posted
When it comes to capturing the world’s scenic vistas, there is nothing quite like photographing natural or urban beauty with a premium high-end landscape lens. The traditional “landscape lens” for generations of photographers has been the wide-angle prime lens. While the modern prime lens cannot be beat for its optical quality and performance,
by Todd Vorenkamp · Posted
Are you currently a photography student? Are you enrolled in high school, college, or graduate-level photography classes this fall? Here is some unsolicited advice from professional photographic educators to take with you into the classroom or out into the field.
1. “It is totally natural to emulate other photographers who you admire as you start your journey with the medium of photography, but the sooner you can begin to make unique photographs that reflect what you are genuinely interested in, the more rewarding your journey will be. Be